Foundation of the convent 1472 (≈ 1472)
Created by Rogerin Rabasse on a troglodytic site.
1605
Reconsecration of the convent
Reconsecration of the convent 1605 (≈ 1605)
Restoration after the destruction of the sixteenth century.
1610
Financial assistance from Louis XIII
Financial assistance from Louis XIII 1610 (≈ 1610)
Reconstructions began with royal support.
1632
Construction of chapel and dormitory
Construction of chapel and dormitory 1632 (≈ 1632)
Major expansion in the 17th century.
Fin XVIe siècle
Destruction during the Wars of Religion
Destruction during the Wars of Religion Fin XVIe siècle (≈ 1695)
Convent ravaged during religious conflicts.
1790
Removal of the convent
Removal of the convent 1790 (≈ 1790)
Transformed into spinning during the Revolution.
1880
Expansion of the convent
Expansion of the convent 1880 (≈ 1880)
Extensions for charitable and educational purposes.
1850-1947
Reuse by nuns
Reuse by nuns 1850-1947 (≈ 1899)
Orphanship, retirement home and boarding school.
2 août 1995
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 2 août 1995 (≈ 1995)
Protection of the building and its troglodytic parts.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Main building and chapel, including the cloister courtyard; troglodytic parts; the remaining parts of the old enclosure wall, including the porch and staircase of access to the chapel; Enclosure right-of-way (Box BH 19): Registration by Order of 2 August 1995
Key figures
Rogerin Rabasse - Founder of the convent
Donor of the troglodytic site in 1472.
Louis XIII - Royal financial support
Aid granted in 1610 for reconstruction.
Origin and history
The Sainte-Barbe convent in Canteleu was founded in 1472 on a site of Roman quarries, by a resident named Rogerin Rabasse. This convent of Penitents, originally troglodytic, was ravaged during the Wars of Religion in the late 16th century. After its destruction, it was rebuilt and re-consecrated in 1605, with financial assistance from Louis XIII in 1610. The construction of a new church began in 1612, while the chapel and dormitory were dated 1632. The convent was abolished during the French Revolution and turned into a spinning plant.
In the 19th century, the convent was reinvested by nuns from 1850 to 1947 and expanded to accommodate an orphanage, a retirement home and a boarding school around 1880. The building, which juxtaposes troglodytic parts and elevation buildings, was listed as historical monuments in 1995. After serving as a maternity home, it is now transformed into individual apartments. The chapel houses a high altar dated 1740, witness to its rich religious past.
The convent illustrates the evolution of religious and social practices in Normandy, moving from a medieval place of penance to a modern charitable establishment. Its hybrid architecture, mixing troglodytism and classical constructions, reflects successive adaptations related to community needs and historical upheavals, including religious wars and the Revolution. Its registration in 1995 underlines its heritage importance, despite periods of abandonment and functional conversion.
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